Chair back construction



Aug. 19, l1941,`

s J. GEDRIS CHAIR BACK CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec 2l Sheets-Sheet l Janlety ledr Aug. 19, 1941.

s. J. GEDRIS CHAIR BACK CONSTRUCTION Filed Deo. 19, -1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 El t vom@ tot 'edmzr Jian-ley J lijofmau 1 tion;

Patented Aug. 19, 1941 CHAIR BACK CONSTRUCTION "Stanley J. Ge'dris, Grand Rapids, Mich. i Application December 19, 1940, Serial No. 370,777

7 Claims.

The present invention relates to chair back construction and more particularly to the construction of the backs of chairs ofthe theater type. This application is a continuation in part ofmy co-pending application Serial No. 367,903 iiled November 30, 1940.

The primary objects of this invention are to provide improved means for attaching an upholstery sheet "to `the back plate of a theater type chair back; to provide such improved attaching means which are convenient in assembly;` to provide a chair back embodying said improved means for attaching the upholstery sheet to the back plate in which the back plate is so formed of sheetmetal as to `give an appearance of substantial thickness to said back plate and an appearance of massiveness to the chair without decreasing the amount of space behind the chair; and to provide a chair back construction which is rugged `and-sturdy, attractive in appearance, and economical in manufacture.

`Illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figurel` is a rear perspective View of a theater chair mounted `between two lchair supporting standards 'and embodying my` new construction; mFigure `2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View through' the chair back taken on line 2 2 of Figure 1; i

` Figure 3 is'a fragmentary perspective View of parts of` the ychair back prior to their assembly; `Figure 4 `is a sectional View similar to Figure 2 but showing certain parts of the ch'air back in only partially assembled position;

`Figure 5 is an enlargedfragmentary sectional View on line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a sectional View similar to Figure 2 but showing a modified construction of chair back;

Figure 7 is a fro-nt perspective view of a chair back plate showing a further modified construc- Figure 8 is an 'enlarged fragmentary sectional viewlthereof taken on line 8--8 of Figure 7 and showing in addition certain other parts of the merals in the several views, the theater type chair shown in Figure l comprises a chair seat I0 and a chair back generally designated II mounted between and supported by ,a pair of horizontally spaced vertically disposed chair supporting standards I2. The seat I0 is preferably pivotally mounted on the standards `I2 by suitable means such as the means shown in my` copending application above identified.

The chair back II comprises `a sheet metal back plate I3 having a ycontinuous fiange gener-` ally designated I4 extending around the top and sides of vthe back plate I3. This flange I4 comprises a Vportion I5 extending `rearwardly from thelmain bodyof the back plate I3, aportion I6 extending outwardly from the portion I5, a

portion I'I extending forwardly from `the portion I6, anda `vertical portion I8 extending inwardly from the portion I'I. .A continuous pocket I9 is thus formed extending around the top and sides of `the black plate I3. n n

Padding 20 of suitable material such as cotton,` hair or sponge rubber is disposed over the back plate I3, and an upholstery sheet `2l of fabric, leather `or other suitable upholstery material is disposed over the padding 20. `A rod or wire l22 is secured as by stitching` 23 within a continuous hem 24 at the top and side margins of'theupholstery sheet 2l. A plurality of clips 25 are provided, each clip25 having a portion 26V securely curled aroundV the rod 22 and `the hem 24Y of the upholstery sheetfZI; yand a forwardly extending portion 21.`

` When the `chair black is assembled, thel front surface lof the black plate I3 isf covered with padding 2'0, and rod 22, hem 24 of the `upholstery sheet 2| and the clips `25 secured thereto are pressed within the pocket I9 formed by the flange I4 on the back plate I3 as indicated in Figure 4, whereupon the forwardly extending portions 2'I of the clips 25 spring outwardly, due to the `pressure of the padding compressed in the operation, and engage behind the inwardly extending vertical portion I8 of the iiange I4 on the back plate I3 to thus maintain these parts in secure assembly. An angle bracket 28 isV secured `to the front surface of the back plate I3 beneath the pocket I9` along the top of theback plate, and this bracket 28 supports the top portion of the padding 2B within the pocket I9 to insure compression of that padding during as` lse'mbly oi the chair back.

The back plate I3 is formed so as to provide means for readily mounting the chair back on and between the supportingx"standardsLIZ;A To

this end, the rearwardly extending portion I of the flange I4 is tapered to a considerably greater width at the sides of the back plate |3 than at the top thereof, as best seen in Figures 1 and 5. Fastening means such as the screws 29 are pass-ed through apertures in the rearwardly extending portion I5 of the flange I4 and through the upholstery sheet 2|, and are here shown threaded in the standards I2 to securely attach the chair back to the standards. Preferably and as here shown each standard I2 has a recess 30 therein into which fits the adjacent flange I4 of the back plate I3.

In the modified form of the chair back shown in Figure 6, the construction is identical to that previously described except that the rearwardly extending portion |51 and the forwardly extending portion |11 of theV flange |41on t'he'back |31 are 'of substantial forward-rearwardA plate length thus lending an appearance of substantial thickn-ess to the back plate and of massiveness to the chair. This modified construction does not decrease the necessary amount of room behindrthe chair for,` the occupant of a chair in the rear thereof. inasmuch Ias the rearwardly extended fiang-e I4l is present only at the top and sides of the chair back.

Figures 7, 8 and 9 show a modied form of the invention in which an auxiliary plate 3| is substituted for the angle bracket 28 previously described. This auxiliary plate 3| has a central leaf 32 struck therefrom and secured as by spot welding 33 to the front surface of the back plate |32. The auxiliary plate 3| normally lies flush against the back plate |32 .When this modified chair back is assembled, a quantity of padding 34 is pressed between the top margin of the auxiliary plate 3| and the back plate I32 as best seen in Figure 8. Padding 202 is next disposed over the auxiliary pla-te 3|. The rod 222 and hem 262 of the upholstery sheet 2|2, and the clips 252, are then inserted into 'the pocket |92 in the back plate |32, and the compressed padding 34 exerts an upward pressure against the forwardly extending portions 212 of clips 252 to thus securely engage said portions behind the inwardly extending vertical portion |82 of the flange |42 on the back plate |32.

In the modified construction shown in `Figure a Z-shaped bracket 35 is secured to the front surface of the back plate |33 beneath the pocket |93 at the top of the back plate |33. This bracket 35 has a vertically upwardly extending iiange portion 36 disposed forwardly of the pocket |93.

Inv this form `of the invention the clips 253 have their forwardly extending portions 213 adjacent the inner side of the upholstery sheet 213,' and when the chair back is assembledthese portions 213 engage behind the vertically disposed flange portion 36 of the bracket 35 to thus securely maintain the parts in assembly. A quantity of padding 31 is preferably compressed between each clip 253 and the upholstery sheet 2 I3 to insure engagement of the clip portions 213 behind the flange portion 36 of bracket 35.

It will thus be seen that.' a`chair back has been provided which is simple andreconomical in construction, convenient in assembly and 'attrac tive in appearance and while but several specific embodiments of the invention have, been herein shown and described, it will be understood that numerous details of these embodiments may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of the invention as the same is defined by the followingclaims:

I claim:

1. In a chair structure of the class described, a pair of horizontally spaced vertically disposed chair supporting standards, a chair back supported by said standards and comprising a back plate having a continuous forwardly opening pocket at the marginal top and sides thereof, a flange on said back plate having a vertical portion disposed forwardly of the pocket along the top of the back plate, padding over the back plate, an upholstery sheet covering the padding, a rod secured within a continuous hem at the top and side margins of the upholstery sheet and inserted within said pocket, and a plurality of clips each having a portion secured to said rod and hem and a forwardly extending portion adapted to engage behind the vertical portion of said flange on the back plate for maintaining the rod and the hem of the upholstery sheet Within said pocket. Y

2. In a chair structure of the class described, a pair of horizontally spaced vertically disposed chair supporting standards, a chair backk supported by said standardsV and comprising a back plate having a continuous` flange at the top and sides thereof said flange, extending rearwardly, then outwardly, then forwardly, and finally inwardly to form a pocket, padding over the back plate, an upholstery sheet covering the padding, a rod secured within a continuous hem at the top and side margins of the upholstery sheet and inserted within said pocket, and a plurality of clips each having a portion secured to said rod and hem andA a forwardly extending portion adapted to engage behind the inwardly extending portion of the continuous flange on the back plate for maintaining the rod and the hem of the upholstery sheet within said pocket.

3. In a chair structure of the class described, a pair of horizontally spaced vertically disposed chair supporting standards, ajchair back supported by said standardsand comprising a back plate having a continuous flange at the top and sides thereof said flange extending rearwardly, then outwardly, then). forwardly, and nally inwardly to form a pocket, paddingfover the back plate, an upholstery sheet covering the padding, a rod secured within a continuous h em at the top and side margins of the upholstery sheet and inserted within said pocket, andl a plurality of clips each having a portionV secu-rely curled around said rod and the hem of the upholstery sheet and a forwardly extending portion adaptied to engage behind the inwardly extending portion of the continuous ange on the back plate for maintaining the rod and the hem of the upholstery sheet within said pocket.

4. In a chair structure of the class described, a pair of horizontally spaced vertically disposed chairV supporting standards, a Ychair back supported by said standards and comprising a back plate having a continuous flange at the top and sides thereof said flange extending rearwardly, then outwardly, then forwardly, and finally inwardly to, form a pocket, padding over theback plate, an upholstery sheet covering the padding, a rod stitched within a continuous hem at the top and side margins of the upholstery sheet and in serted within said pocket, and a plurality of clips each having a portion secured tou said rod and hem and a forwardly extending portion adapted to engage behind the inwardly extending-portion of thelcontinuous flange on the backk plate for maintaining the rod and vtht-:hem of the upholsteryvsheetwithin said-pocket. u

5. In a chair structure of the class described, a pair of horizontally spaced vertically disposed chair supporting standards, a chair back supported by said standards and comprising a back plate having a continuous flange at the top and sides thereof said flange extending rearwardly, then outwardly, then forwardly, and nally inwardly to form a pocket, padding over the back plate, an upholstery sheet covering the padding, a rod secured within a continuous hem at the top and side margins of the upholstery sheet and inserted within said pocket, a plurality of clips each having a portion secured to said rod and hem and a forwardly extending portion adapted to engage behind the inwardly extending portion of the continuous flange on the back plate for maintaining the rod and the hem of the upholstery sheet within said pocket, and means secured to the back plate for supporting the upper portion of the padding adjacent said pocket.

6. In a chair structure of the class described, a pair of horizontally spaced vertically disposed chair` supporting standards, a chair back supported by said standards and comprising a back plate having a continuous flange at the top and sides thereof said flange extending rearwardly, then outwardly, then forwardly, and finally inwardly to form a pocket, the rearwardly extending portion of said flange being relatively wider at the sides of the back plate than at the top thereof but the outwardly, forwardly and inwardly extending portions of said ange being uniform throughout the length of the flange, padding over the back plate, an upholstery sheet covering the padding, means for securing the top and side margins of the upholstery sheet Within said pocket, and fastening means passing *hrough the rearwardly extending portions of said flange at the sides of the back plate and into the adjacent chair standards respectively for securing the chair backv to the standards.

7. In a chair structure of the class described, a pair of horizontally spaced vertically disposed chair supporting standards, a chair back supported by said standards and comprising a back plate having a continuous flange at the top and sides thereof said flange extending rearwardly, then outwardly, then forwardly and finally inwardly to form a pocket, the rearwardly and forwardly extending portions of said flange being of substantial forward-rearward length to lend an appearance of substantial thickness to the back plate, padding over the backplate, an upholstery sheet covering the padding, and means for securing the top and side margins of the upholstery sheet within said pocket.

STANLEY J. GEDRIS. 

